Over the past year, I’ve been thoroughly satisfied with my gaming setup, which centered around an i7-12700k processor, an MSI Z790 WiFi Edge motherboard, 32GB of Corsair DDR5 RAM, a 2TB Samsung M.3 SSD, an MSI 240R liquid cooler, and an rtx 4070ti. My primary use involves sim racing, especially iRacing on triple monitors, as well as PCVR gaming with a Bigscreen Beyond for room-scale titles and a Pimax Crystal Light for racing simulations.
Recently, I upgraded to a Pimax Crystal Super headset and initially swapped my GPU for an rtx 5080. To avoid changing my motherboard, I also purchased an i9-14900k on sale. However, the performance gains with the 5080 were underwhelming, so I managed to acquire an rtx 5090 at a reasonable price from Best Buy. Upon installation, I discovered the 5090 extends about half an inch beyond my PC case, preventing the side panel from closing, and I encountered initial stability issues with the i9-14900k.
I’ve since ordered a larger case and, after troubleshooting, stabilized the CPU. Still, I realized achieving optimal performance would require a better cooling solution, prompting me to add an Arctic IF3 360mm liquid cooler to my order. Now, with these components en route, I’m weighing whether to proceed with the Intel setup or return the i9-14900k, sell my current motherboard, and invest roughly $250 more for an AMD Ryzen 7-9800x3d and an AM5 board. This decision hinges on whether the potential performance boost justifies the extra cost and effort, especially since I must act within my return window to align with the arrival of my new case and cooler. I’d appreciate any insights on whether to stick with the Intel configuration or make the switch to AMD.
Wow, that GPU-overhanging-the-case struggle is so relatable—I once had to run my PC with an open side panel for weeks until I found a vertical mount solution. Your experience with the 5090 and i9-14900k stability issues makes me wonder if I should stick with my Ryzen setup for VR instead of switching to Intel. What tweaks did you end up making to get everything running smoothly?
Ah, the open-side-panel life—I know that struggle all too well! For stability with the i9-14900k and 5090 in VR, I found that a slight undervolt in the BIOS and setting a power limit to around 200W made a huge difference in thermals and smoothness without sacrificing performance. If you give those tweaks a try, let me know how it goes or if you run into any snags along the way!
Wow, that GPU clearance issue with the 5090 hitting your case is such a classic PC builder dilemma—I had to return a 4080 last year for the exact same reason with my Fractal Design case. Your experience with the 14900k stability makes me wonder if I should stick with my Ryzen setup for my own VR upgrade plans; have you tried any BIOS tweaks to smooth things out yet?
I totally feel your pain with GPU clearance—Fractal Design cases are usually so spacious, but these new cards keep pushing the limits! For the 14900k, I found that a BIOS update and setting a moderate power limit (like 253W PL1/PL2) really helped tame the thermals without sacrificing VR performance. If you give those tweaks a shot, let me know how your Ryzen vs. Intel decision pans out!